Operating knob and locking mechanism for burner control valves



May 22, 1962 Filed Aug. 29, 1960 H. M. REEVES 3,035,567 OPERATING KNOB AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR BURNER CONTROL VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hansen-r Mfiesves BY 44%W 9 QAW/ A-r-rvs,

May 22, 1962 Filed Aug. 29, 1960 H. M. REEVES 3,035,567 OPERATING KNOB AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR BURNER CONTROL VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HERBERT M.Raaves BY 447 1, A 9

Jim. 1

United States Patent Office 3,035,557 Patented May 22, 1962 3,035,567 OPERATING KNOB AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR BURNER CONTROL VALVES Herbert M. Reeves, Kankakee, Ill., assiguor to Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Kankakee, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 52,594 Claims. (Cl. 126-42) The invention relates to gas ranges generally and more particularly to an improved operating knob and locking mechanism for the burner control valves of such ranges.

One object of the invention is to provide a valve operating knob with associated valve locking mechanism which efiectively prevents accidental or inadvertent opening of a gas burner control valve, particularly by a child, and which presents an unusually attractive appearance when arranged in groups along the front of a gas range.

Another object is to provide an operating knob and locking mechanism that can be applied to conventional burner control valves without requiring any structural changes in the valves.

A further object is to provide an operating knob and locking mechanism for burner control valves which is inexpensive to produce, simple to install yet efficient and practical in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will b..- come apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cooking top of a gas range equipped with valve operating knobs and locking mechanism embodying the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the range cooking top with parts broken away to show details of the locking mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the cooking top taken in a horizontal plane substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the valve locking mechanism in released position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical plane substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 4.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and will be described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to details of the particular embodiment illustrated, the intention being to cover all modifications and adaptations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown as incorporated in a gas range having a horizontal cooking top 10 accommodating a plurality of gas burners 11. The cooldng top ordinarily comprises an enameled, sheet metal stamping and, in the range shown, terminates at its forward edge in a depending flange constituting a panel 12 for the burner control valves and other control devices provided in modern ranges. Gas is supplied to the burners 11 from a common manifold 13 (FIGS. 3 and 4) through individual burner control valves 14.

The valves 14 may be of conventional construction, each having a threaded inlet extension 15 (FIG. 4) adapted to be screwed into a hole in the manifold 13. An outlet extension 16 at the inner end of the valve is adapted to be connected by a conduit 17 with the burner 11 which the valve controls. Gas flow through the valve is controlled by the usual valve member or plug rotatable through the medium of a stem 18 projecting at the front end of the valve. As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the manifold 13 extends along the front of the range below the cooking top and supports the valves 14 in position such that their stems project forwardly through openings 19 provided in the panel 12.

In accordance with the invention a knob 20 of unique form and associated with novel locking mechanism is provided for each valve 14. As shown in FIGS. 24, each knob 28 comprises a bar-like element presenting elongated generally rectangular front and rear faces 21 and 22. These faces are inclined with respect to each other so that the front face is disposed in a position such that indicia printed or otherwise provided on the face 21 is conveniently visible to a person standing in front of the range.

A socket 23 opens through the rear face 22 of the knob for the reception of the projecting end of the valve stem 18 which is conventionally flattened along one side. The socket is complementarily shaped whereby the knob and stem are constrained against relative rotation. In other words, rotation of the knob is effective to rotate the stem 18 and thus open or close the associated valve 14. As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the socket 23 is formed with its axis normal to the rear face 22 of the knob and consequently that face is disposed parallel to the panel 12 in all positions of the knob.

The elongated bar-like form of the knob 29 particular ly adapts it for use with a simple yet effective valve locking mechanism. In its preferred form, that mechanism comprises a latch member 25 pivotally supported behind the panel 12 to swing into or out of blocking relation to an abutment 26 presented by the knob 20 adjacent its upper rear edge. The abutment 26, in this instance, comprises a recessed surface formed by rabbeting the edge of the knob so that the abutment extends the full length of the knob. Upon movement of the latch member into blocking relation to the abutment, rotation of the knob from the horizontal position in which it is shown in FIGS. 2-4 is effectively prevented. Preferably, the knob is secured to the Valve stem so that it occupies the horizontal position when the valve is closed.

The latch member 25, as herein shown, comprises a sheet metal stamping having an upright leg 27 with integral rearwardly bent ears 28 at its upper side edges apertured for the reception of a pivot pin 29. In the exemplary embodiment support for the latch member is provided by a bracket 30 in the form of a flat metal plate adapted to be mounted on the valve 14 with which the mechanism is associated. As shown in r IG. 7, the lower edge of the bracket is recessed as at 31 to afford clearance for the valve stem 18 of the valve. Apertures 32 at opposite sides of the clearance recess accommodate anchoring screws 33, the apertures being keyhole-shaped or having an enlarged end portion permitting attachment and removal of the bracket without requiring complete removal of the screws. Forwardly extending ears 34 at the upper side edges of the bracket are spaced apart to fit between the cars 28 of the latch member and are apertured to accommodate the pivot pin 29 for pivotally supporting the member.

Referring more in detail to the latch member 25, the upright leg portion 27 has its lower end portion bent over to form a forwardly extending leg or flange 35 constituting a stop dimensioned to project through the opening 19 of the panel and overlie the abutment 26' when the member is in valve locking position as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, in the locking position of the latch member, the flange or stop 3-5 is presented in blocking relation to the abutment 26 so that rotation of the knob 20 and valve stem 18 is positively restrained. The latch member is yieldably urged toward and releasably retained in locking posi- 3 7 tion by spring means including a coiled compression spring 36 interposed between a washer 37 abutting the front face of the bracket 30 and a rigid depending extension 38 of the latch member. The extension, as shown, is formed by bending the outer end portion of the flange 35 back upon itself and then downwardly as shown in FIG. 5. A slot 39 in the extension aifords clearance for the valve stem 18 and enables the stem to serve as a guide for the locking member in its pivoting movements.

Latch releasing means characterized by its convenience of manipulation and attractive appearance is provided for swinging the latch member rearwardly to the retracted position shown in FIG. whereby to release the knob 20 for rotation to open the valve. The releasing means comprises an elongated push bar 40 fitted between the flange 35 and leg 27 of the latch member and rigidly secured thereto. This bar additionally serves to reinforce the flange and prevent it from being bent or distorted in the event that an attempt is made to force the valve open without releasing the latch. Additional reinforcement in the form of a plate 41 spot welded to the upright leg 27 may also be provided if desired.

The push bar 40 is preferably dimensioned so that it projects through the opening 19 in the panel 12 a short distance beyond the outer face 0f the panel when the valve is locked in closed position. Itis thus conveniently accessible for releasing the latch mechanism as, for example, being pushed back by the tips of the fingers gripping the upper side of the knob to turn it. Thus, in a single manipulative step the valve may be unlocked and turned to the open position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. In practice, the push bar 40 may be made of the same material as the knob '20, or, if preferred, given the same finish so that the knob and block have the appearance of a single unit when the valve is locked in closed position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a valve operating knob and locking mechanism particularly suitable for use with the burner control valves of gas ranges. The knob and the portion of the locking mechanism exposed to view present an unusually attractive appearance. Moreover, the lock releasing element or push bar is associated with the valve operating knob in a manner which makes it easy to reach and manipulate, yet eifectively prevents accidental or inadvertent opening of the valve. In particular, the push bar is effectively concealed from the view of small children and guarded by the knob 20 so that accidental releasing of the valve lock is substantially precluded.

The improved locking mechanism is simple in construction and inexpensive to produce. 'It is easily installed, particularlysince it can be used with conventional burner control valves without requiring them to be structurally modified.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination in a gas range having a front panel with an opening therein and a burner control valve having a rotatable stem projecting through said opening, a knob mounted on the projecting end of the valve stem for manually rotating the stem to open and close the valve, said knob being shaped to present an elongated abutment extending transversely of the valve stem, a latch member presenting an elongated stop, means pivotally supporting said member behind the panel to swing between -locking and release positions, said member when in locking position presenting said stop in overlying relation to said abutment thereby blocking said knob against rotation, spring means yieldably urging said member to and retaining it in looking position, and a release element in the form of an elongated bar carried by said member so as to present its front face closely adjacent the upper surface of said knob for convenient access from the front of said panel for shifting said member to release position for freeing said knob for rotation.

2. The combination in a gas range, having a front panel with an opening therein and a burner control valve having a rotatable stem projecting through said opening, a knob mounted on the projecting end of the valve stem for manually opening and closing the valve, said knob being shaped to present an elongated abutment extending transversely of the valve stem, a latch member presenting a stop of substantially the same length as said abutment and disposed parallel thereto, means pivotally supporting said member behind the panel toswing between locking and release positions, said member when in locking position presenting said stop in overlying relation to said abutment thereby blocking said knob against rotation, spring means yieldably urging said member to and retaining it in locking position, a generally rectangular push bar mounted on said member adjacent said stop in position to be projected through the opening in the panel upon movement of the member to locking position for convenient engagement by the tip of a finger by which the knob is grasped for opening the valve.

3. The combination in a gas range having a front panel with an opening therein and a burner control valve having a rotatable stem projecting through said opening, a knob mounted on the projecting end of said stem for manually rotating the stem to open and close the valve, said knob comprising an elongated block presenting its front face inclined in a direction for convenient viewing from a position forwardly of and above the range top, the upper surface of said knob being recessed to present an elongated abutment along the upper rear edge of said block extending transversely of the valve stem, said knob being fixed to the valve stem in a position such that said abutment is disposed horizontally and above the valve stem when the valve is closed, a latch member formed to engage said abutment along its entire length for locking it against rotation from the valve closed position, and a push bar for shifting said latch member inwardly to free said knob for rotation, said push bar being presented through said opening adjacent the top rear edge of the knob for convenient engagement by the tip of a finger grasping the knob.

4. The combination in a gas range having a front panel with an opening therein and a burner control valve having a rotatable stem projecting through said opening, a knob mounted on the projecting end of said stem for manually rotating the stem to open and close the valve, said knob comprising an elongated block presenting an upwardly facing abutment along its upper rear edge extending transversely of the valve stem, a bracket supported on the valve, an L-shaped member having an upright leg pivoted on said bracket and a forwardly bent flange adapted to project through the opening in said panel, spring means urging said member in a direction to position the forward edge :of said flange in blocking relation to said abutment thereby to lock the knob and valve stem against rotation, and a push bar supported on said flange and projecting through the opening in the panel for manually shifting said member in a direction to retract said flange from blocking relation to said abutment.

5. The combination in a gas range having a front panel with an opening therein and a burner control valve having a rotatable stem projecting through said opening, a knob mounted on the projecting end of said stem for manually rotating the stem to open and close the valve, said knob comprising an elongated block presenting an abutment along its upper rear edge extending transversely of the valve stem, a bracket supported on the valve, a latch member having an upright leg with a horizontal leg adjacent its lower edge, said horizontal leg having its edge portion bent back on itself and then downwardly to present a depending rigid extension, means pivotally securing the upright leg of said member to said bracket with said horizontal leg projecting forwardly through the opening in said panel, said rigid extension being apertured to afford clearance for the valve stem, a compression spring interposed between the valve and said extension yield- {that References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,668 Haley Apr. 26, 1938 2,134,029 Chambers Oct. 25, 1938 5 2,335,443 Pharles Nov. 30, 1943 

